Necktie clip



Oct. 6, 1959 Filed Oct. 29, 1956 J. A. O'REILLY 2,907,045

NECKTIE CLIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSFPH #1. 099m Kn/M KM FiledOct. 29, 1956 J. A. O'REILLY NEQKTIE CLIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 5 Fl G. 2

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH A. OPHuY BY v WM 7:511

Arron/m United States Patent NECKTIE CLIP Joseph A. OReilly, SanFrancisco, Calif.

Application October 29, 1956, Serial No. 619,020

3 Claims. (Cl. 2-150) This invention relates to neckwear ornamentationand more particularly relates to a clip for wear over the knottedportion of a necktie or cravat especially, for example, a conventionalfour-in-hand type necktie.

One particular embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in thedrawings and which will be described hereinafter in more detail is shownas comprising a generally split tube or sleeve body defining front andside surfaces and a spring clasp element extending from the top frontportion of the body rearwardly and downward- 1y. I The split sleeve bodyis adapted to embrace and encompass the necktie at its knotted jointadjacent the front neck part of the wearer and with the clasp parthooked over and overlying the rearward or inner areas of the knottedportion of the necktie.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a clip of thecharacter briefly above mentioned which may be made of any number ofmaterials, and which may be ornamented or designed in limitlessvariations to produce the desired effects. Thus, for example, the clipmay be made of metal or plastic and provided or formed with fraternal ororganizational emblems or slogans. The clip body may also be coveredwith textile fabric or other material matching the material of thenecktie with which the clip is Worn. In such instances the covering maybe the same color, or of different but compatable colors, as the necktieitself.

In another embodiment of the invention the spring clasp element isseparate from the sleeve body so that the sleeve may be mounted on theknot prior to the mounting of the clasp.

L Another object of the invention is that a clip of the present type maybe worn with a necktie in which only ajsimple overhand knot or loop hasbeen formed. Thus, it is unnecessary for the user to first tie acomplete fourin-hand knot before applying the clip. This feature hasanjadditional advantage in that neckties made especially foruse with thepresent clip may be made substantially shorter in length with resultantsavings of material, than more conventional ties that must be longenough to allow for tying the usual complete four-in-hand knot.

Numerous further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following specification and referring to theaccompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference representcorresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tie clip.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the tie clip positioned over the knot of anecktie.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a necktie in the process of being tied in asimple overhand knot suitable for Wear with the present clip.

Fig. 4 shows the necktie of Fig. 3 in a completed knot.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention in rear elevation.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5.

2,907,045 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 Fig. 7 is a top plan of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of a tie engagingclasp for the clip.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified tie clip pos'ie tioned overthe knot of a necktie.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the modification of the tie clip.

Fig. 11 is a perspective of the sleeve and clasp portions of themodified clip of Fig. 9 separated from each other.

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the modified clip of Fig. 9 shown withthe clasp being inserted into locked position with respect to thesleeve.

Referring now to Fig. 1 it can be seen that the tie knot clip Acomprises an integral split sleeve body 15 truncated conical shaped infrom elevation and defining a front surface 15 and side surfaces 15'.The sides r15 are curved inwardly and toward one another forming rearsurfaces 16 and separated by a slit 17 axially aligned with the body.Top 18 and bottom 19 of the body are both open ended with the diameterof the top being greater than the diameter of the bottom. A tie claspmember 22 projects upwardly as at 22* and rearwardly as at 22' from thetop of the front surface 15 and thence inwardly and downwardly as at 22in relative parallel alignment with surface 15*.

In operation a necktie 25 may be tied in a conventional four-in-handknot 26 as shown in Fig. 2 or preferably may simply be tied with asimple overhand knot 27 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4;

The front or exposed part of knot 26 or 27 of tie 25 is substantiallycompletely covered or sheathed by the clip body. The clip may bepositioned merely by slipping the knot through slit 17 with the claspmember 22 hooked with portion 22* over the knot and portion 2-2extending downwardly engaging the inner or rear surfaces of the knot.Clasp member 22 is made of a spring material biased to urge the claspmember inwardly against the knot 26 or 27 toward front surface 15 of thebody. The clasp member 22 is smaller than slit 17 and aligned with theslit so the clasp can swing into the interior of the body 15.

The clip A may be fitted over thetie knot 26 0'1 27 without impairmentof the functional operation of the tie. Thus, the tie may be easilyloosened or tightened as desired. v

It will be noted that when the tie clip is placed over the knot that theclip, due to its truncated conical shape, has a contour similar toconventional four-in-hand tie knots. The clip A may be covered by fabricof the same type as comprises tie 25 to provide an overallappearanc'e ofthe tie and the clip almost indistinguishable from the tie without theclip A, but tied with a conventional knot. It is also appreciated thatthere are vast varieties of decorative colors or materials which may beused to give the clip a novel and decorative eifect substantiallydifferent than conventional neckties when such effects are desired.

Moreover, and as above indicated, the tie knot clip A can be used inconnection with political or advertising campaigns. The name of acandidate or product may in such cases be imprinted on the front face 15of the clip and thus be displayed by the wearer to give publicity to thesaid candidate or product.

In the second embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and8 there is provided a clip B having a body 28 having a general shapesubstantially identical to body 15 excepting that a leaf 29'extendsupwardly as at 29 from the top of front Wall 31 and thence inwardly asat 29 and downwardly as at 29 and finally terminating in a bead 32. Theouter edges 30 of leaf 29 taper outwardly upwardly from bead 32. A clasp34 comprising an open ended loop of wire 36 formed with two oppositelyfacing straight stretches 37 and 37 is mounted on leaf 29 with thestretches 37 and 37 pivotally mounted in bead 32. The wire 36 is formedof spring material with two stretches 37 and 37 urged inwardly towardeach other. The outward taper of edges functions to spread the twostretches 37 and 37 apart as the clasp 29 is moved outwardly. Thiscauses inward bias of the stretches 37 and 37 to create a counter forcewhich tends to urge the clasp 34 inwardly against front wall 31 so theclasp functions similar to clasp 22 of Figs. 1 and 2. The clip Btherefore is used in exactly the same manner as clip A hereinbeforedescribed.

In a third embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs; 9, 10, 11 and12 there is provided a tie clip having a sleeve body 40 having atruncated conical shape in front elevation and defining a front surface40 and side surfaces 40 The sides 40 are curved towards one anotherforming rear surfaces 41 and separated by a slit 42. Rear surfaces 41are each formed with inwardly projecting tab members 43 extendinginwardly toward the opposite rear surface 41. The inside edge 44 of eachtab is disposed at an angle of approximately 30 from the center line ofslit 42 so as to provide a sloping edge extending inwardly from top 45of body 40 toward the bottom 46 of the clip. The bottom of the tab hasan edge 47 extending inwardly toward rear surface 41 at an angle ofapproximately 100 from the top of the center line of slit 42.

In combination with body 40 there is provided a clasp member 50 having afront extension 51 complementary in shape with the bore wall of frontsurface 40 and extending upwardly as at 52, then downwardly as at 53,and thence terminating in a depending and outwardly projecting tab 54.Tab 54 is provided with outer edges 55 which taper outwardly from itsbottom edge 56.

In operation a necktie may be tied in a conventional four-in-hand knot61 as shown in Fig. 9 or may be tied with a simple overhand knot of thetype illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The front or exposed portion of knot61 is then substantially completely covered or sheathed by body orsleeve 40. The clip may be positioned merely by slipping the knotthrough slit 42. The front extension 51 of clasp member 50 is theninserted downwardly between knot 61 and front 40. Tapering outer edges55 of tab 54 are arranged to engage with tapering inside edges 44 to camthe two rear surfaces 41 apart as the clasp member 50 is forceddownwardly. When the clasp 50 has been inserted downwardly suflicientlyso that tab 54 extends below the flange tabs 43 the two inside edges 44are forced inwardly to their normal position by the spring tension ofthe metal forming the body 40. The tabs 43 then in moving inwardly camthe tab 54 downwardly to lock the clasp 50 against upwardly movement.The clasp 50 thus functions to lock the sleeve 40 in place on knot 61 bypreventing downward movement of the sleeve body 40 with respect to theknot 61. Upward movement of the sleeve with respect to the knot isprevented by the relative conical shaped form of the body with respectto the knot. The lower portion of the sleeve and the knot is smallerthan the upper portion of the knot and the sleeve so the sleeve cannotmove upwardly thereon.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is understood that certain changes and modificationmay be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed: i i

1. A clip for removably sheathing the knotted portion of a necktiecomprising: a' split sleeve body truncated conical shaped in frontelevation defining a front surface, side surfaces, and two rear surfacesseparated by an axial slit; said body formed with its top having agreater diameter than its bottom; and a clasp having first, second andthird components; said first component slidably juxtaposed on the insidefront surface of said sleeve body; said second component extendingrearwardly from the top of said first component and the third componentextending downwardly from the second component to a position between andaligned in engagement with the longitudinal edges of the rear surface ofthe sleeve.

2. A clip for removably sheathing the knotted portion of a necktiecomprising: a split sleeve body truncated conical shaped in frontelevation defining a front surface, side surfaces, and two rear surfacesseparated by an axial slit; said body formed with its top having agreater diameter than its bottom; a clasp having first, second and thirdcomponents; said first component slidably juxtaposed on the inside frontsurface of said sleeve body; said second component extending rearwardlyfrom the top of said first component and the third component extendingdownwardly from the second component to a position between and alignedin engagement with the longitudinal edges of the rear surface of thesleeve; and mutual locking means formed respectively on the edges of thethird component of said clasp and the longitudinal edges of the rearsurface of said body to prevent upward movement of said clasp withrespect to said sleeve body.

3. A clip for removably sheathing the knotted portion of a necktiecomprising: a resilient split sleeve body truncated conical shaped infront elevation with its top having a greater diameter than its bottom;said body defining a front surface, side surfaces and two rear surfacesseparated by an axial slit; and a clasp having a first componentslidably juxtaposed on the inside front surface of said body; said claspformed with a second cornponent extending rearwardly from the top of thefirst component and a third component depending from the secondcomponent; the two rear surface longitudinal edges of said body eachformed with a first edge portion depending at an oblique angle towardthe opposite of the two edges and a second edge portion depending fromthe lower end of the first edge portion at an angle away from theopposite of the two edges; said third component of said clasp formedwith two oppositely facing tab edges between and aligned with the tworear body edges; said tab edges spaced a greater distance apart thanthe' minimum distance between the rear surface longitudinal edges andless than the maximum distance between the rear surface longitudinaledges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MyersFeb. 21, 1956

